Field Trips on the Installment Plan?

Our blog on Central School field trips has brought in quite a bit of feedback. This is from one reader:

I've read someone’s post where they say the article isn’t 100% factual because the person left out that there is a “payment” plan offered & that makes it fair for all students. The 1st payment of $30 per person is due Feb 13. The rest is due by April. That’s $250 due in 2 months. In my opinion that can still cause a hardship on many and still be unaffordable! I personally know people that have had to borrow money to go on these trips. Anyway, you can add that so your post will be 100% factual.

As a 112 year old writer who can remember only two field trips during our entire pre-college school days (both taken on a blue Joiner bus), we're going with $250.00 excursions for a third grader as ridiculous. Our field trip at that age? About three miles to the 3-C Grill for an end of school treat.

Times change...

On a related note (and it is related), Alabama remains last in almost every area of education. Remember that math achievement survey from two years ago that included the District of Columbia? We came in 52nd. Anyone proud of that? Our schools need money in order to catch up, but instead our legislators give priority to unconstitutional laws, and our educators place football first.

Our lawmakers rail against illegal immigrants and huff and puff about illegal voting in California and Texas where illegals are everywhere, yet the test scores in those states are higher than Alabama's. If that isn't a sad commentary on our state's commitment to education, we don't what is.

Some things don't change...

No One's With the Band?

We recently read an article in PNS concerning drug testing for band members at a local high school (Wilson Drug Testing). It seems that bands are considered an arm of sports. This is in addition to regular random drug testing at various high schools.

Almost immediately after reading this article, we received a communication concerning a very unsavory incident on a local band trip. The school was unnamed, and we have not asked, but we believe it was in Colbert County.

Now for those who have not made it into the 21st Century, we regret that we have to tell you that not all children are reared in the First Uptown Baptist Church or the Cherry Lane Church of Christ. What does that mean for parents? It means you gotta watch those little darlings like Henry watching Foghorn.

Of course, it's not just the band. Remember the Clements High School cadaver debacle. About the same time an Alabama high school student was killed while crossing I-65 after specifically being told not to. We haven't heard, but we assume the high school was sued anyway.

Oh, you say your kids wouldn't. Probably not, but do you really want them to see their friends' intestines on the median or the equivalent of Deep Throat on the band bus? The moral? If it's a long trip, take enough parents to sleep in shifts...and be sure to wear your leisure suits to embarrass them to the max. Send us the pictures.



Shoalanda